How a Pop Star’s Family Memorialized a Loved One With Jewelry

When Johannah “Jay” Deakin, mother of One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson, died of cancer last year, her sister-in-law, Sally Deakin, started looking for creative ways to memorialize her.

On her quest to find something tangible to share with family members, Sally ran across Lost Forest—a jewelry atelier in Dublin, Ireland, that “freezes” nature (any plant or flower—alive or cut) for eternity by steeping the flora/fauna in clear resin to create stunning pieces of jewelry. The pieces share aesthetic qualities with delicate glass snow globes.

Sally commissioned Lost Forest designer Gillian Corcoran to create a series of heart-shape pendants that used petals from a rose Jay gave her on the day she’d wed Sally’s brother.

The heart pendants Lost Forest created for Sally Deakin in memory of Jay Deakin (courtesy of Instagram/@lostforestjewellery)

“I decided I wanted to use the petals for something for all those who were close to her,” Sally wrote in a note she sent to family members who received a pendant (a family member posted the pendant and note on Instagram).

“I genuinely can’t thank Gillian enough,” she noted. “Everyone loves them, and I’m so glad we have another lovely reminder of what was a fantastic day, filled with love and laughter.”